Thoughts and questions regarding just about everything while taking a daily stroll with my dog.

Friday, December 21, 2012

They Really Don't Get It!

I had mixed feelings when the Republicans balked at passing "Plan B". On one hand, it was as close to hard ball as the Republicans have come by giving the President a tax increase even though it wasn't anywhere near what he wanted.

On the other hand I can't help but admire them for balking because they were to get nothing in the way of spending cuts in return. Empty promises don't count.

So many are quick to blame the Republicans for all our financial woes, but it simply isn't true. When it comes to spending, both parties can't help but to go hog wild ~ with pork and bureaucracy.

Take the $60 billion aid bill promised by the President for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Bear in mind, many are still without shelter. Many are living in unheated and unsanitary shells of what used to be their homes. FEMA funds for hotels are running out and people are being turned out. Some are living in their cars while FEMA trailers remain undelivered. It's winter. It's cold and it's wet.

So where is that $60 million? Apparently some is being held up until after Christmas so they can determine what spending is appropriate. It's winter. It's cold and it's wet. This, by the way, is the Republicans.

Then there is the pork. Eight million has been tagged to buy cars for homeland security and justice department personnel. While Sandy victims sleep in what's left of theirs.

Thirteen billion is slated for tree plantings and such in preparation for future storms. While trees still remain protruding from crushed roofs.

One hundred fifty million has been slotted for NOAA to dole out to Alaskan fisheries. Let them eat fish? Don't they wish! Untold millions are going to other government entities for sprucing up - like a new roof for the Smithsonian and spiffying up National Cemeteries.

Not that these projects don't have some merit, but they should be voted up or down on their own merit and not attached to an aid bill for people who can do little more than scratch their heads and wonder where their President's promised help is.

People are helping one another as best they can. We have a friend who is a volunteer fireman whose home is in an involved community. The firemen take turns taking one of their trucks to keep watch in communities which no longer have their own. This is what we as Americans do. We help each other, our neighbors, people in far reaches of the country from our own.

But what does our government do? They posture. They promise. They preach. Then they disappear. Americans remind me of my Big Dog sweatshirt that reads "Lead, follow or get out of the way."

The government reminds me of another that reads, "If you aren't the lead dog, the view never changes." No matter who is in charge, no matter who holds the houses of congress, the view never changes. I'd wonder how they can live with themselves if I thought they were even aware, but I don't think they are. They lose their sight and their vision in the smog of deceit while the rest of us stand outside looking in. And you wonder why Ron Paul and his Libertarians have such a foothold.